Borough President Endorsement: Helen MarshallIn making our endorsements this election year, we have had to tackle the difficult issue of term limits and backing any incumbent who is taking advantage of the change in law to run for a third ter...

Somber 9/11 Memorial in Maspeth
A crowd of about 100 gathered Thursday at the intersection of 69th Street and Grand Avenue in Maspeth to mark the anniversary of September 11, 2001. The eight-year anniversary of the tragic events ...

LoCascio named head of Maspeth LionsMaspeth resident Mike LoCascio was installed as president of the Maspeth Lions Club this week at O’Neills Restaurant. Here is he pictured with Councilwoman Liz Crowley. Crowley commented that LoCas...

Budget hearing on tap for CB5
Community Board 5 will hold its annual Capital and Expense Budget hearing on Wednesday, September 9, one District Manager Gary Giordano said is among the most important meetings all year. The meeti...

Breaking News

US investigators launched dawn raids Tuesday on dozens of Los Angeles locations suspected of offering "maternity tourism" services for mostly Chinese mothers wanting to give birth in the United States. The raids targeted apartment complexes in the Irvine, Rancho Cucamonga, Rowland Heights and Walnut districts outside LA where the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency says foreign clients are housed. "Such businesses provide travel and lodging services to pregnant foreign nationals interested in coming to the United States to give birth so their offspring will be American citizens," ICE spokeswoman Virginia Kice said. According to ICE, the maternity tourism businesses cater mostly to Chinese women who pay $15,000-$50,000 for the services, which can include getting social security numbers and US passports for their offspring.

By Jeffrey Heller JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu may have made an argument that many Israelis support in warning Congress on Tuesday about a potential nuclear deal with Iran, but critics asked whether it was worth the widening rift with the White House. The address was broadcast live on Israeli television and radio, and came at a politically sensitive time -- just two weeks before a closely contested election in which Netanyahu is seeking a fourth term. Israeli political commentators called it a polished performance by the U.S.-educated politician, but agreed with President Barack Obama's assessment that Netanyahu offered nothing new in his criticism of U.S.-led talks with Iran. Netanyahu could use a boost: an opinion poll released several hours before the speech gave the center-left Zionist Union 24 seats to 21 for Likud in the 120-member parliament.